An estimated of 10 percent or more children snore for more than 1 night. Snoring results from the obstruction of breath when the air makes its way through the mouth. The air passage of the throat through which the air goes in and out causes the tissue to vibrate causing snore. The sound of the snore totally depends on the amount of air passing through the mouth and the frequency at which the throat is vibrating. Children above the age of three years tend to snore when they are deep in sleep.

Primary and secondary snoring:
Children who are otherwise healthy should not have a snoring problem unless there is some health disorder. However, if loud snoring is observed in otherwise a perfectly healthy kid, seeking medical help is a wise thing to do. In general, primary snoring is defined as a condition which is not associated with other sleep-related disorders such as lung disorder, OASS, inability to sleep for a longer duration etc.

Other possibilities:
It is estimated that close to three percent of the children suffers from breathing problem while sleeping. OSAS is a condition which is characterised by pauses in breathing and gasps along with loud snores. There could be instances where a kids  muscle relaxes way too much obstructing the air to pass through. The body and the brain are both alerted at this stage. As soon as the brain sends a signal, the body wakes up. Thus, most kids suffering from this disorder are not able to sleep well and tend to feel tired throughout the day.

Common causes of sleep apnea:
Sleep apena is a major cause of snoring. It can be caused because of allergies, obesity, GERD etc. In children sleep, apnea can also be caused by tonsil. Since the tonsil size of children less than 7 years of age tends to be bigger than adult individuals, it causes snoring related problem. Swollen tonsils not only obstruct air but creates other health related problems as well.

Symptoms of sleep apnea during the day and night:

Loud snore
Snorts, gasps, pauses during sleep
Heavy sweat during sleep
Social and behavioural problems
Failure to get up in the morning
A nasal voice
Easily irritated, cranky and aggressive
Relief measure:
The first thing a that a doctor does is a physical exam followed by observing the symptoms of a kid. Primary snorting can be addressed by physical exercise, counselling and breathing exercise. Problems related to apnea are addressed through medicine, counselling, and exercise. Certain dietary restrictions also needed to be followed during this time. However, apena is completely treatable within a certain time frame.

Mouth Breathing - What Can Cause It?

How many of us have heard about Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) before Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister late J Jayalalithaa was put on it for recovery? Hardly a handful. Patients who are placed on the device have 50-50 chance of survival and while it could not help the late Chief Minister, her condition put a spotlight on ECMO.

What is ECMO?
ECMO is a life support device that is put in place when a patient's heart and lungs stop functioning completely post a cardiac arrest. When the patient does not respond to Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), the patient is put on ECMO.

Function of ECMO
The core function of the device is to separate carbon dioxide from the blood and add oxygen into it. It takes the load off from heart and lungs, providing critical time to the body organs for its treatment and recovery.
Patients are only put on ECMO, if there is a chance that the condition can be reversed.

How does ECMO work?
The device drains blood from a vein, which is attached to an oxygenator machine. The machine then removes carbon dioxide from the blood and adds oxygen to it. Depending upon the condition of the patient, the warm blood is either pumped into the body with the help of the machine or is transferred back into the body through an artery.

How long a patient can be on ECMO?
After seven days of being put on ECMO,there are chances of patient getting an infection.
In case the patient contracts an infection, it is recommended to take the patient off ECMO support.

All About ECMO - Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation 

There are different types of heart problems like coronary artery disease, congenital heart failure and cardiomyopathy, but their warning signs are the same i.e. shortness of breath. This is the reason why shortness of breath should never be taken lightly and should always be investigated for heart diseases.

Why does shortness of breath happen?
You may not be able to get in enough air while experiencing shortness of breath. Known medically as dyspnea, shortness of breath is often described as an intense tightening in the chest and a feeling of suffocation. This is one of the most frightening conditions experienced by a patient. You can experience dyspnea without any serious medical problems in these conditions

After strenuous exercise
In extreme temperatures
Due to obesity and
In high altitudes
But if you are not in any of these conditions, then shortness of breath is a sign of a serious medical problem usually involving your heart or lungs. These two vital organs transport oxygen to the rest of your body and remove carbon dioxide; hence problems with either of these organs can affect your breathing. Shortness of breath that comes on suddenly called acute, can be due to other causes too like:

Asthma
Excess fluid around the heart
Low BP
Heart failure
Blood clot in an artery in the lung
Collapsed lung
Pneumonia
If you have had shortness of breath that has lasted for weeks, then we call it chronic and its causes can be various diseases of the heart apart from asthma and COPD. There is no doubt that your heart may be in trouble, if you have chronic shortness of breath. You may be suffering from these heart conditions:

Cardiomyopathy or problems with the heart muscle cause symptoms like shortness of breath after physical exertion as well as fatigue, and swelling of legs and abdomen. Patients suffering from cardiomyopathy are at risk of sudden death due to cardiac arrest.
Heart arrhythmias is also called irregular heartbeat, and can cause slow or fast heartbeats. These also have symptoms like shortness of breath. Arrhythmias can cause strokes, heart failure and cardiac arrest.
Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently to meet the needs of the body. This is a potentially fatal condition. One of the most common symptom is shortness of breath with exercise and while lying down. Fatigue is another common symptom.
Pericarditis or swelling of membranes around the heart is also characterised by shortness of breath.
Treatment of breathlessness can start after you are referred to a heart specialist for further tests to confirm the likely cause.

Shortness in Breath - Can Your Heart Be In Danger?

The CAD (Coronary Artery Disease) is a condition where the blood flow in your arteries is impaired. This happens when the blood vessels that supply blood to your heart are damaged. As a result, plaque builds up in the arteries and the blood flow to the heart is decreased.

This will eventually lead to chest pain or angina and other symptoms. If the arteries are blocked completely, you may suffer a heart attack later on. It is one of the leading causes of death and heart attacks all over the world.

What are the causes of CAD?

The CAD may be caused due to an injury to the inner part of the coronary artery. This may be due to the following factors  

High blood pressure and cholesterol

Smoking

An unhealthy or sedentary lifestyle

Diabetes

If the inner wall of the artery is damaged, deposits made of cholesterol and other cellular wastes are collected in the region. The process is called atherosclerosis. If this plaque surface breaks, the platelets in your blood will try to fix the artery. In the process, these platelets are accumulated in the area. Too much accumulation can block the artery.

As the arteries are responsible for providing oxygen-rich blood to your heart, blockage in the region will lead to a heart attack.

Moreover, Coronary Artery Disease may be caused if you have a family history of heart diseases. It is more likely to occur when you are over 65 years of age. Factors such as obesity and high levels of stress can also lead to this condition. 

Symptoms

The common symptom of Coronary Artery Disease is angina or pain in the chest. However, the condition may be accompanied by other symptoms, like  

Tightness, heaviness, burning or a squeezing sensation in the chest

Sweating

Dizziness

Shortness of breath followed by extreme fatigue

Pain in the arms, shoulders or the back

Severe pressure in the shoulders and arms that lead to heart attack

The angina symptoms are commonly misunderstood as symptoms of indigestion. Be aware and seek medical assistance immediately.

Treating CAD with Ayurveda 

The following Ayurvedic herbs are helpful for preventing the deposits of harmful fats in your blood vessels  

Guggulu

Chandraprabha Vati

Combination of herbs like Amlaki, Arjuna, Punarnava, Kutki and Triphala

Another important treatment procedure for the disease, as prescribed by Ayurveda, is meditation. Meditating for about 20 minutes every day will help you relax and calm your nerves. It will help you enhance your mental health and happiness. This will keep your heart healthy.

This prevents the body from forming angiotensin is a hormone that causes your blood vessels to get smaller which increases your blood pressure. This baeltablet helps in Lower angiotensin levels, then help widen your blood vessels and let your blood flow more easily this reduces your blood pressure. This Bell tablet helps in blocking the effects of angiotensin on your heart which helps in lowering your blood pressure and these roots helps in preventing blood clots from forming, some do this from making substances called clotting factors and others keep the clotting factors from working or preventing other chemicals from forming so that clots cannot develop. What is most important is that all these herbs help in dissolving existing plaque. This drug also works as thromboxane it prevents platelet to stick together to form a clot.

You can also opt for Panchkarma therapy that is a rejuvenating experience consisting of massages and steam baths. High cholesterol is effectively treated using this therapy. 

To prevent risks of CAD, you must exercise regularly and avoid consuming foods high in fats and sugar. Reduce the amount of preserved foods. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetable daily. Furthermore, get plenty of sleep and stop consuming alcohol or cigarettes to stay healthy.

CAD (Blockage In Arteries) - How Can Ayurveda Handle It?

Homeopathy is a method of treatment, which is based on the fact that symptoms of a certain disease, if induced in small quantities, may help cure the same disease in a sick person. Cardiological disorders are complications of the heart; they can range from various disorders, such as heart attack or irregular heartbeats.

Homeopathic remedies are based on naturally occurring substances and are given to the patients in a diluted form. These remedies trigger the symptoms in small quantities and heal the body.

The various homeopathic treatments for cardiological disorders are:
1. Latrodectus: This treatment is used to treat symptoms of precordial pain in the body.

2. Aurum metallicum: Aurum metallicum is used in treating symptoms of weakness in the muscles of the heart.

3. Aconitum:This treatment is used when a person is having a heart attack.

4. Spigelia: Spigelia is used in the treatment of irregular heartbeats which may cause sharp pain in the chest.

5. Cactus grandiflorus: This treatment is used in treating angina pectoris, which is characterized by symptoms of pain caused by decreased blood flow to the heart.

6. Crataegus oxyacantha: This homeopathic treatment is used in treating coronary insufficiency in people. This disorder cause problems in heartbeat.

7. Digitalis: This homeopathic treatment is used in treating cardiac muscle failure. This disorder causes palpitation, tightness in the heart muscles and a suffocating sensation.

8. Kalmia latifolia: This treatment is effective in treating cardiac hypertrophy, which causes the heart muscle to thicken, resulting in size reduction of the ventricles. This treatment is very effective in treating cardiac hypertrophy that results after rheumatism.

9. Glonoinum: This homeopathic treatment is prescribed to treat symptoms of plaque buildup in the artery, which cause hypertension.

Homeopathy Treatment For Cardiological Disorders - 9 Best Remedies

Chest pain is a common problem that most people experience. Chest pain can signal anything from a muscle cramp to even an impending heart attack. You should never ignore symptoms of chest pain as it can signal a serious underlying disorder. The details about chest pain are not described here as it is beyond the scope of this article. The focus is on various homeopathic remedies to treat symptoms of chest pain.

Why homeopathy?
Homeopathy is an alternative system of medicine that was started in the year 1796, by Samuel Hahnemann. It is based on the premise that the substance that causes a disorder, if introduced in the right quantity in the body, will cure the same disease. Compared to mainstream medicine, homeopathy products are not synthetic and are free from any side effect.
Homeopathic remedies for chest pain:

The homeopathic remedies that are given below not only treat pain effectively but also get rid of the actual cause of the pain. The best thing about these remedies is that they are completely free from any side effect, whatsoever. The various homeopathic remedies for chest pain are:

Rhus Tox: This remedy is effective in treating pain that spreads to the shoulders from the chest; these symptoms tend to worsen in damp and cold weather.
Arnica Mont: If you experience chest pain along with soreness in the body, this remedy is prescribed.
Ranunculus B: In case of intercostal rheumatism wherein you experience pain in the muscle between the ribs, this remedy is usually recommended by the practitioner.
Kali carb: Kali carb is used to treat stitching pain in the chest that worsens during the early hours of the morning.
Rumex C: This remedy is used to treat pain that develops in the left lung, followed by coughing.
Bryonia: For a stabbing or a burning chest pain that worsens when you move, Bryonia is considered to be the appropriate remedy.
Phosphorus: This remedy is recommended when you experience heavy coughing and chest pain caused by pneumonia or tuberculosis.
Carbo-veg: Carbo-veg is used to treat chest pain resulting from acidity, gas and indigestion.
Robinia: This remedy is used to treat symptoms of chest pain that originates from behind the sternum (breastbone) as a result of acidity.

Chest Pain - Can Homeopathy Help You Treat it?

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